Why do bad things happen to good people?
Our series at church right now is called Big Questions and that was today's topic. In my 15+ year medical career, I am not sure there is a single question I have asked more often than this one. "Why do bad things happen to good people??" I was so excited to learn and pray and receive this message today. Our teaching pastor spoke, prompting me to think there would FOR SURE be some explanation of this in the Bible. And while a few verses were shared, the pastor's biggest answer was 'I don't know.'
I was less than pleased with this...
But I was moved to tears by the end of the service, realizing that in difficult and unimaginable times, we can call on Jesus, and He will ALWAYS be right there with us, because there is no pain he does not understand. There is no suffering He did not go through to save you and me.
Physical pain? He was crucified. Emotional pain? He was mocked, spit at, sold by his dear friend. Spiritual pain? Anguish as He asked if there was any other way to God above. God so loved us that He sent His one and only son to experience so much suffering, so that we are able to live our lives freely, knowing we are saved, and one day will be at a glorious party in heaven. What a thought.
But even still, while here on earth, bad things happen to good people. And the pain, fear, suffering, and shock that come with those bad things seem too much to bear at times. I will link the service from today at the end of my blog, but Pastor Mark Moore shared 3 questions to help set our healing path in directions of past, future, or present.
- Why am I suffering?
- Focus: Past
- Emotion: Anger
- How can I find meaning in this?
- Focus: Future
- Emotion: Hope
- Who can help?
- Focus: Present
- Emotion: Love
In my program, I review a technique in the Mind Health portion of the Healing System that works on 'thought remodeling' which dives into a similar concept of pairing thoughts with emotions. Today's message, however, was one of the first times it was brought to my attention that thoughts and feelings can be time sensitive or keep us stuck in the past.
I absolutely believe that part of being a human and having the human experience means having big (sometimes difficult) emotions that need to be validated and the magnitude revealed. I also believe, that in order to heal from the inside-out, we have to be willing to shift our focus and perspective to the present and future. This is so hard to do. Especially when the future is undecided or the potential of a diagnosis is scary...
I also do not know why bad things happen to good people. I know that God has a plan. I trust that He is a good father. And in the midst of pain and suffering, He is with us. Talk to Him. He can handle whatever it is you have to say.
Strength and healing,
Erin
https://ccv.church/watch/message?MessageId=7834
